Method for reinforcing the head end of a cigar



Sept- 23, 1969 H. c. DRL-:HER 3,468,315

` METHOD FOR REINFORCING THE HEAD END OF A CIGAR Filed Nov. 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l F l G 1 )4 F a G 2 DIRECTION 0F 1N VENTOR. l HANS C. DREHER AGENT H. C. DREHER Sept. 23, 1969 METHOD FOR REINFORCING THE HEAD END OF A CIGAR Filed Nov. 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AGENT United States Patent O 3,468,315 METHOD FOR REINFORCING THE HEAD END OF A CIGAR Hans C. Dreher, Dallas, Pa., assignor to General Cigar Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 593,069 Int. Cl. A24f 7 00; A24d 1/04; A24c 3/ 00 U.S. Cl. 131-20 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a method for reinforcing the head end of a cigar. It is particularly suited for the manufacture of cigars wherein iller tobaccos are enclosed in a reconstituted tobacco sheet binder to form a bunch with a small reinforcing strip placed around the head end before a wrapper is rolled onto the bunch. Essentially, the invention comprises striping an elongated line of paste or adhesive near the outermost edge of the inner face of a reinforcing strip substantially over the entire length of the strip before the binder is laid thereover. After the bunch is formed on a rolling table and then crimped and trimmed, a controlled amount of paste or adhesive is then applied to the outer face of the reinforcing strip by injecting a drop of paste into a header block of a cigar machine for application on the head end of the cigar bunch. When the head of the cigar bunch is placed in the header block and the cigar bunch is rotated simultaneously with the helical application of a wrapper, the drop of paste is smeared over the outside surface ofthe head of the bunch. By this method, both the inner and outer folds of the cigar bunch binder and reinforcing strip become welded together and form bonds with the contiguous iiller and wrapper to form a pliable, but iirm headed cigar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known in the art, placement of a reinforcement strip at the head end of a cigar beneath the wrapper alleviates the problem of the disintegration of the head of the cigar by manipulation in the smokers mouth. For instance, U.S. Patent 2,914,071, granted Nov. 24, 1959, to Straus, teaches that a reinforcing strip may be coated with an adhesive on both faces before it is aixed within the convolutions of the binder at the head end of a cigar bunch. Even when both the convoluted binder and reinforcing strip are adhered to each other at opposing surfaces, the fact remains that when the head end of the cigar is clamped between a smokers jaws, the opening in the cigar head tends to spread or blossom out. Furthermore, U.S. Patent 3,189,032, granted June 15, 1965, to Brothers, describes a reinforcing strip having a coadhesive coating on its outer surface so that when the strip is crimped at successively spaced portions around the circumference of the bunch the resulting succession of longitudinal folds are secured by the coadhesive coating. Securing the folds at the outer surface of a reinforcing strip as taught by Brothers does not suice to prevent the head end of a cigar from blossoming out by manipulation in the smokers mouth because the inner folds are not adhered and have a tendency to spread.

In U.S. Patent 3,067,753, granted Dec. 11, 1962, to Kaufmann, it is taught to apply dabs of paste to opposite ends of one face of the inner side of the reinforcing strip to hold the strip in place and seal the free end of the strip to the bunch after it is rolled. U.S. Patent 3,242,926, granted Mar. 29, 1966, to Clausen, and U.S. Patent 3,036,- 579, granted May 29, 1962, to Godfrey, describe apparatus and methods for placing and aixing reinforcing strips to a binder sheet prior to rolling a cigar bunch.

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sufficiently to prevent it from spreading and blossoming out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for substantially reinforcing the head of a cigar and to achieve this result by only slight modifica: tion of commonly available cigar-making machines. A further object is to provide an apparatus and method for reinforcing the head end of a cigar which will utilize a variety of pastes or adhesives.

By placing an elongated L-shaped paste line near the outermost edge of the inner face of the reinforcing strip (FIGURE 1), the folds formed by crimping the cigar bunch become pasted together at the inner face of the reinforcing strip and at the outer face of the binder since the paste on the inner face of the strip spreads with the pressure of forming the head, and in addition, may actually permeate the binder and strip. Actual pasting of filler that is contiguous to the binder may be observed when the binder is permeable. It should be noted that the porosity of the reinforcing strip and the binder as Well as the type and viscosity of the paste should be considered to obtain maximum welding or fusion of the head components. However, the simple internal pasting of the folds between the insert strip and the binder, and even between the binder and adjacent ller, does not prevent the blossoming out of the head when the cigar is clamped between a smokers teeth, even though the bunch is encased in a wrapper.

To further reinforce the head end of the cigar bunch, a drop of paste is injected into the header block so that when the head end of the bunch is rotated in the header block by the bunch spinning rolls of the wrapping device, a iilm of paste is applied to the head end of the cigar bunch simultaneous with the helical application of a wrapper onto the bunch. The result being that the outside folds of the insert strip are filled and rmly pasted, and the wrapper is thoroughly pasted to the insert strip which already is bonded to the binder and adjacent ller.

In chewing tests between cigars made with the insert strip tacked to the binder with a single layer of paste and cigars made by this invention, a marked increase in the durability of the head to chewing was observed in cigars produced by the new method.

The conventional cigar-making machine applies paste to the inner face of the ag end of the wrapper by a paste applicator prior to pulling the wrapper across a tension plate used to wind the wrapper onto the cigar bunch. This paste application is required to adhere the flag end of the wrapper as a cap over the head of the finished cigar. The viscosity of the paste for wrapper application is very critical. If the viscosity of the paste is too high, the tension on the wrapper is increased and the flag end of the thin wrapper tears as it is pulled over the tension plate. On the other hand, a paste of too low a viscosity results in an improperly wrapped bunch. Therefore, any reinforcement of the head by varying the paste applied to the flag end of the wrapper will be negligible because the problems inherent in pulling the pasted ag across the tension plate on the cigar-making machine preclude the use of pastes desirable for their adhesive qualities. By injecting paste into the header block, the proper selection of a paste best suited to secure the outer folds in the head end of a cigar bunch is freed of the limitations that exist in the selection of a Wrapper paste. In fact, a feature of the invention is that the paste applied in the header block of the cigar-making machine is additional to the Wrapper paste conventionally applied to the inner face of the flag end of the wrapper. Thus, paste which would not be usable on the flag of a wrapper for added head reinforcement can now be used and at the same time the usual wrapper paste applied to the inner face of the wrapper helps to adhere the wrapper firmly to the bunch.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of which:

FIG. 1 shows the position of the reinforcing strip on a rolling apron with an elongated L-shaped line of adhesive near the outer edge of the inner face of the strip with the binder laid over the strip;

FIG. 2 illustrates in a partially sectioned elevation, a cigar bunch positioned in the header block of a cigarmaking machine adapted for the injection of a drop of paste which is applied to the outer face of the reinforcing strip; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic arrangement showing the supply ing of paste to the header block.

FIG. l shows the portion of rolling apron 2 which has a multiplicity of perforations 4 for holding down in a smooth condition reinforcing or insert strip 6 and binder 8. Insert strip 6 may be cut with a straight or serrated edge from a roll of reinforcing sheet and placed on apron 2 by any of the known dispensing mechanisms. A serrated edge is preferred because such an edge will conform more readily and more thoroughly to the curvature at the head of the bunch. Also, the serrated edge away from the tip of the bunch is desirable because a straight edge tends to act like a razor blade in cutting the wrapper thereover when a smoker bites into the reinforced cigar head. An elongated line 12 of paste or adhesive is applied to strip 6 near the outer serrated edge and preferably a short line 14 of paste is also applied along trailing end 16 of strip 6 to help secure end 16 more firmly to the completed bunch and prevent unravelling of strip 6 before the wrapper is wound around the bunch. Both lines 12 and 14 of paste are simply applied with an L-shaped paster bar. Longer line 12 of paste serves to bond and reinforce the inner folds of reinforcing strip 6 and binder 8 when the cigar bunch is crimped. Binder 8 may be cut from a roll of tobacco sheet and laid on apron 2 over strip 6 by any known dispensing mechanism such as that shown in Belgian Patent 547,564. The direction of rolling followed by apron 2 in executing the rolling of the cigar bunch is indicated by arrow 20. It will be noted that the longer dimension of strip 6 is essentially parallel to the direction of rolling. Dotted lines 22 and 24 indicate the lines along which the marginal portions of binder 8 are cut off at the crimper of the cigar-making machine.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned elevation showing cigar bunch 18 comprising filler 26 enclosed in binder 8 which has reinforcing strip 6 disposed at head end 2S. Head end 28 of cigar bunch 18 is disposed in header block 30 which is attached to the housing of wrapper device 32, all of which is part of the conventional cigar-making machine. Wrapper device 32 has a set of three or four liuted rollers (not shown) which open to receive a cigar bunch and then close to rotate the bunch so that a wrapper may be helically rolled thereon. Header block 30 is adjacent to and aligned with the axial space formed at one end of the tiuted rollers; as known, block 30 supports the head of the cigar bunch and acts as a forming surface for wrapping the flag end of the wrapper. According to this invention, header block 30 is modified to permit the injection of paste. Since common steel is corroded by many pastes and corrosion causes discoloration and contamination to the paste besides shortening the life of the machine, steel parts have been replaced with parts made of stainless steel where necessary. The solid steel spindle of the wrapping device on the cigar-making machine has been replaced by stainless steel spindle 34 having a central bore 36 drilled therein. Inlet nozzle 40 tapped into spindle 34 communicates 4 with one end of bore 36 while the other end of bore 36 is sealed by screw 42. Spindle 34 is horizontally supported at one side of wrapper device housing 32 by bushing 38 and is located just below the iiuted rollers of the wrapping device. Header block 30 which is detachable from housing 32 is drilled to provide chamber 46 and canted orice 44 which leads therefrom to the inner curved surface of header block 30. The portion of housing 32 between block 30 and spindle 34 is also drilled to provide a bore in which tube 48 is inserted before block 30 is attached to housing 32. Tube 48 which is threaded at its lower end is screwed into tapped hole 50 in the top side of spindle 34. Thus, paste entering nozzle 40 passes through bore 36 in spindle 34 up through tube 48 into chamber 46 from which it flows through orice 44 into the curved inside surface of header block 30. A gasket may be desirable between header block 30 and housing 32 to ensure against leakage of paste from chamber 46 through the interface between block 30 and housing 32.

FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred method of transmitting paste to header block 30. Pressurized air is fed from pipe S2 at a gauge pressure of about 40 pounds per square inch to regulator 54 equipped with a filter. Pressurized air iiows through line 56 and pressure-reducing valve 53 to paste chamber 60 in which a pressure of about 20 p.s.i,g. is maintained. The paste 62 placed in chamber 60 is forced up pipe 64 by the pressure in chamber 60 into the inlet of positive displacement pump 66 which controls the amount of paste transmitted to header block 30. Pressurized air from pressure regulator 54 is also used to operate the air-actuated positive displacement pump 66. This air stream in pipe 68 enters four-way solenoid valve 70 which is controlled to admit periodically the stream by way of pipe 72 into the pressure-actuating port of pump 66. The delivery of paste to header block 30 is adjustable and is measured by the piston stroke of pump `66 and is timed by microswitch 74 which is normally open. Microswitch 74 is mounted above the cigar bunch transfer mechanism on the cigar-making machine so that the bunch will at the apex of its arcuate movement from the crimpercutter to the wrapping device momentarily contact the lever arm of microswitch 74 and thereby closed electrical circuit 76 which operates solenoid 70. When a moving cigar bunch trips microswitch 74 to the closed position, electric current iiows through circuit 76 and opens solenoid valve '70 to admit pressurized air into pipe 72 discharging into the pressure-actuating port of pump 66. Thus, a controlled drop of paste or adhesive is injected by pump 66 into header block 30 through tubing 78 and spindle 34 just prior to the delivery of the cigar bunch thereto. The injection of paste into header block 30 just prior to the placement of a cigar bunch in block 30 is preferred because it reduces the pressure necessary to inject the drop of paste into block 30. If the cigar bunch were already in place in header block 30, the injection of paste would meet greater resistance because head 28 of the bunch tends to seal orifice 44 in block 30.

The uted rollers of the wrapping device on the cigarmaking machine rotate the cigar bunch and simultaneously with the helical application of a Wrapper, the outside surface of the reinforcing strip becomes coated in header block 30 with a layer of paste. It should be noted that any type of paste or adhesive that can be pumped can be injected into header block 30. Thus, it is now possible to select head reinforcing pastes mainly for their bonding characteristics with little regard for their viscosities, since the application of the wrapper to the bunch by drawing the Wrapper over the tension plate of the cigar-making machine is independent of the viscosity of the head reinforcing paste when such paste is applied in accordance with this invention.

After cigar bunch 18 finishes contacting the lever arm of microswitch 74, the lever arm springs back and microswitch 74 returns to its normally open position. Thus, the flow of electric current ceases in circuit 76 and solenoid valve 70 is deactivated, causing pressurized air to flow through pipe 80 into the pressure-reversing port of pump 66 and thus returning the pump piston to its original position. When pressurized air is charging into the pressure-actuating port from pipe 72 pressurized air is being exhausted from the pressure-reversing port by way of pipe 80 and a discharge port in solenoid valve 70. Conversely, when pressurized air is charging into the pressurereversing port from pipe 80 pressurized air is being exhausted from the pressure-actuating port by way of pipe 72 and a discharge port in solenoid valve 70.

In a typical use of the invention, an aqueous paste is prepared by dissolving 37.5 ounces of methyl cellulose in 15 gallons of water. The aqueous paste has a viscosity of about 4000 centipoises at a temperature of 25 C. For a blunt-shape cigar having a diameter of 4%4 inch, approximately 0.1 cubic centimeter of the paste is injected into header block 30 from orifice 44 each time a cigar bunch is brought to header block 30.

Another desirable paste is made by dissolving 82.5 ounces of hydroxypropyl cellulose in 15 gallons of water. This aqueous paste has a Viscosity of about 500 centipoises at a temperature of 25 C. Various other gums and adhesives known to those skilled in cigar manufacture may be applied to the heads of cigars in accordance with this invention. Similarly, the invention is not limited to the use of aqueous pastes. Gums or adhesives that dissolve in organic solvents or that may be emulsified may be applied to cigar heads in the form of a nonaqueous solution or an emulsion. Cellulose acetate is an example of a gum that may be utilized as a nonaqueous solution or as an emulsion.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Thus, while pump 66 has been shown in FIG. 3 in the preferred form of an air-actuated device, other types of pumps may be used. A particularly desirable embodiment of air-actuated positive displacement pump 66 is disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application Ser. No. 593,010, filed of even date herewith, which eventuated in U.S. Patent 3,386,383 on June 4, 1968. Accordingly, the claims should not be interpreted in any restrictive sense other than that imposed by the limitations recited within the claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In the manufacture of a cigar comprising a filler enclosed in a binder with a reinforcing strip at the head end to form a cigar bunch with a reinforced head and a helically rolled wrapper encasing the reinforced bunch, the improvement which comprises in combination:

(a) cutting said reinforcing strip with equally narrow serrated edges along its outer and inner edges;

(b) applying a line of paste on the inner face of said reinforcing strip adjacent to its outer serrated edge substantially over its entire length and extending into an L-shape on the trailing end of said reinforcing strip before the binder is laid thereover and rolled therewith to form the cigar bunch; and

(c) supplying a drop of paste and spreading said paste over only the exposed portion of the outer face of said reinforcing strip that has been rolled onto the head end of the cigar bunch, said spreading being effected while rotating said cigar bunch for the helical application of the wrapper to said cigar bunch, the inner face of the flag end of said Wrapper having receiving a further application of paste,

whereby a cigar is produced with an improved, reinforced head in which said binder, reinforcing strip and wrapper are integrally and firmly pasted together.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the paste spread over the outer face of the reinforcing strip is an aqueous solution of hydroxypropyl cellulose.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,355 3/1963 Toutou 131--11 498,738 5/1893 Boman 131-90 X 2,914,071 11/ 1959 Straus 131-11 3,189,032 6/ 1965 Brothers 131-11 3,252,465 5/ 1966 Kaufmann 131-20 HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 131-11 

